Our latest trip begins in the port city of Reggio di Calabria where we caught a ferry to take us to Sicilia. It's a relatively short ride across the Straits of Messina, less than an hour. Here is Joe waiting at the docks.

Our trusted Opal Astra autonoleggio, front row on the left. We are leaving the port of Reggio di Calabria, making the short cross over to Sicilia.

Nothing glamorous about the accommodations -- just lots of large rooms filled with lots of noisy people and lots of unruly children. But the trip is short and we're in a great mood because it's the beginning of our vacation and we can see the island of Sicilia!

The main harbor in Lipari - a mix of fishing boats, sail boats, yachts and passenger ferries.

The town of Cannetto, on the west side of Isola Lipari.

La Spiaggia Bianca (the white beach) where we spent many of our days while on Lipari! Like all good beaches in Italy, it was accessible only by boat or by walking down -- and back up -- what seemed like 1,000 stairs. That's Isola Panarea and Isola Stomboli in the background.

The harbor town of Lipari is where the majority of the people on Isola Lipari live. There are a couple of other small towns and villages scattered around the island.

Isola Lipari is a part of the Aeolian Islands, located off the northwest coast of Siciliy. There are dozens of islands, but only seven of them are populated. Lipari is the largest of those, but still only about 7-8 miles from one end to the other. Isola Lipari is in the foreground, and Isola Vulcano is in the background.

The ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre in Taormina date back to the 3rd Century BC.

The western coastline of Sicilia, on our way from Taormina down to Aci Castello, just north of the major city of Catania.

Taormina. We actually liked Taormina a lot, but it was also the place we ran into the most turistici americani on our entire vacation. Still, it's a beautiful town.

After we left Lipari and returned to Silicia, we drove around to the west side of the island and the town of Taormina. That's the town of Taormina, at the top of that mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The town itself dates back to the 5th Century BC.

Hotel Baia Verde -- huge pool, huge pool deck, comfortable lounge chairs and umbrella, an outdoor bar, the crystal clear Mediterranean, stairs and ladders to help you navigate the lava to get the the ocean -- what's not to like!

The Hotel Baia Verde in Aci Castello (in the center of the picture with the red tile patio areas). The hotel is situated on an outcrop of lava, overlooking the Mediterranean. Huge pool, huge pool deck, comfortable lounge chairs and umbrella, an outdoor bar, the crystal clear Mediterranean, stairs and ladders to help you navigate the lava to get the the ocean -- wht's not to like!

The Duomo in Ortygia, built in 1728. The current Duomo was constructed around the existing Temple of Athena, which dates back to the 5th Century BC.

The seawall in Ortygia.

Another view at the summit crater. The footing is a combination of loose rocks, pumice and the ice/snow underneath - watch your step and don't get too close to the edge!

Here we are at the actual summit crater of Mt. Etna. What you see is a combination of smoke and steam from the crater, and the smell of sulfer in the air is almost nauseating.

Joe stopping to catch his breath. Unbelievable scenery!

Although it looks like some combination of the moon or a desert, it's actually black volcanic ash and pumice near the summit crater of Mt. Etna.

The town of Caltagirone in southern Sicilia, world-famous for its ceramics. Specifically, colorful majolica tiles.

The centerpiece of Caltagirone is the 250 stairs of La Scala di Santa Maria which connect the old city with the new city. Each stair has been designed with a unique tile pattern -- no two of them are alike.

Here is Joe, carefully making his way through the Gole Alcantara. We waded about 100 yards into the gorge before the combination of deep and icy cold caused us to turn around.